4 sq mm Radial - Never again!

[Piratepete]

Had to rewire part of a house (inc kitchen) and the layout suggested that the best solution was a 32Amp 4mm radial cct for the power (sockets etc). I hadn't done one for years!

No problem doing 1st fix - 4mm is nice and flexible.

2nd fix. Using MK Logic White could get 2 x 4mm into the terminals, could just about get an extra 2.5mm in where there was a single spur (though particularly difficult on the back of a switched fused spur), but no way could I get 3 x 4mm in where I was branching off to 2 or more sockets.
Also had problems stripping 4mm cores cleanly - insulation much softer than on 2.5mm.

Anyone else had problems using 4mm. Funny thing is, my local supplier says he sells loads of 4mm!

Cheers

Pete

 

[ipf]

4mm better for radials, but never branch off resulting in 3 at a point.

 

[bugsy]

if its a new install why the spurs

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Poor design mate if you are wiring a new radial and ending up with 3x4mm's at a socket.

 

[highspark]

Never ever see the point in 4mm radials. If it exceed 50m squared throw rings i4mm radials are crap for this reason I'm all for radials but only 2.5m 20a!

 

[Piratepete]

if its a new install why the spurs

Why not? I'm always keen to save on cable! It's allowed!

 

[Piratepete]

Poor design mate if you are wiring a new radial and ending up with 3x4mm's at a socket.

Not my original plan - change of mind by customer - but what's wrong with spurs? It's allowed, there's a lovely diagram in the regs Appendix 15 in the Red book, and I save on cable.

 

[highspark]

Why not? I'm always keen to save on cable! It's allowed!

You could have saved cable if you ran 2.5mm rings! Or 20a radials depending on size of install

 

[Piratepete]

You could have saved cable if you ran 2.5mm rings! Or 20a radials depending on size of install

Kitchen and Utility cct so 32 Amp. long run to CU and because of ceiling construction (steel beams and open voids to roof) no way to continue a ring all the way around. As I said at the beginning - radial looked the best solution.

Back to original question - is it just MK that has terminal holes really only designed for 2.5mm?

 

[Engineer54]

All power accessories these days allow a max of 10mm!! Around 5 or 6 years ago it was 12mm!! Makes a hell of a difference when your wiring in 4mm cables!! lol!!